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Would it be possible to build some kind of cellphone jammer I could have in my car that would jam the cell phone signals in a 100 foot radius around my car?

That'd be pretty cool cause then you wouldn't have to deal with anyone talking on the phone while driving around you. But I'd imagine it'd be pretty dangerous cause everyone that is talkin on a phone will be looking at their phones thinking "WTF, why don't I have a signal now?", and thus paying even less attention to the road for a few seconds.

Yeah yeah, it's probably illegal, and maybe not that safe? But lets discuss, honestly how practical would it be to make something like that, and furthermore, can something like that even be made?

Yes it can be made. It isn't that hard to do. This exist already in another form. I know some hospitals that have equipement installed that when you enter a certain area (with sensitive equipement etc.) your mobile switches itself off.
I offcourse don't know all american laws, but having this equipement, or jamming equipement (which isn't that hard to make either, just costly) over here is indeed illegal.

About the effects, I think you nailed it. The drivers which cellphone doesn't work anymore, will be even more distracted.
Here in Belgium it's illegal to call without a handsfree set. I would like that calling in the car are made illegal all together, but hey, hwho am I. So I think the best way to make traffic ssafer is to make it illegal and than enforce a Zero tolerance policy by the cops. But from what I read here the Police over there is not making traffic safety it's biggest priority (speed traps?)

Interfering with licenced communications is a serious offence. Doing such a thing is good for a fine, imprisonment, or both under US law. CleanMPG does not condone any illegal activity. As such this thread is locked.

One last post to illustrate the point, with a big thanks to Dean for digging up these articles.


It is so illegal that the South Carolina prison system cannot do it, despite serious problems with crimes (escapes, murder) committed with, or organized over, contraband cellphones.

Here are several news links:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/10/22/cell.phones.prison.ap/index.html
http://www.law.com/jsp/legaltechnology/pubArticleLT.jsp?id=1202425436632
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2008-10-21-prison-cellphone_N.htm
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/21/ap/hightech/main4536702.shtml
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27296620/wid/7468326/6.b10984/5??cm=WaterCooler-SC